Rhode Island Slaver data

This database provides detailed information regarding Rhode Island's involvement in the slave trade. Rhode Island was the most active colony in the slave trade.  You will notice a number of references to rum in the data. Rhode Island rum was the primary currency used to purchase enslaved persons. ​The colony had nearly 30 distilleries where molasses was boiled into rum. Rhode Island ships carried barrels of it to buy African slaves, who were then traded for more molasses in the West Indies which was returned to Rhode Island.